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Finally Out of the Jungle

Fredrik Olmqvist / 26.09.2003

Having not heard from Fredrik for some days (getting a connection in the Amazon is obviously a bit tricky) we now know he’s completed the race. Many have pulled out, some being evacuated with fevers, and most stages have been shortened, including this last one. A difficult swamp crossing was taken out and runners took a boat ride to the new start point before heading for the finish line. Obviously a man who saves himself for the big moment, Fredrik crossed the line first! Here's his report:

Day 6 - To the Finish The end of the last and sixth stage took place in the small Amazonian town Rio Preto da Eva. All the remaining 39 runners had a warm - not to say "hot" - welcome in the punishing heat. Crowds, music and speaker voices gave a beach party atmosphere.

The runners that spent a long time on the course suffered a lot, since this last stage was only partly under the shadowing canopy. The distance had been cut down to 16 km due to finish timing.

After a tough week with bad stomach & eating problems added to the demanding race course, I finally could run with some energy in my body. And therefore it was a great pleasure to be first to cross the finish line in the first edition of the Jungle Marathon.

Since this town is so tiny that nothing ever happens there, everybody cheered along the main street. The children didn't have to attend school. And I was greeted as a great sports star, having to write autographs and posing for pictures with families. A few minutes later came overall winner, French ultramarathon specialist Karim Mosta - happy as always, singing "Brazil, Brazil". When the local hero Francisco "Chiquinho" Nascimento arrived 20 minutes later, he had lost the overall lead.

Third on the overall ranking was Paulo Roberto, 65, from Rio de Janeiro. During the past week he has always been smiling and saying "isso aqui brincadeira de criana" ("This is a child's game"). Few of the other runners would agree.

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